Dicvo

One word, one everyday story

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可以

kěyǐ

Original teaching content · provenance and version

Local audio pilot: technical checks passed; new candidates still need listening review.

Mandarin pronunciation · Synthesized MP3 · Previously approved by project reviewer

pinyin
kěyǐ
simplified
可以
traditional
可以
spoken pinyin
kéyǐ

1 · modal verb

Indicates that an action is permitted.

表示某个动作得到允许。

Use 可以 before an action to ask or grant permission. 十二点可以吗 asks whether a time works; it is not evidence of this permission sense.

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May I take a photo here?

English pronunciation · Device-generated pronunciation (depends on browser and system voices)

Your current device will speak after you click; voices can differ by device.

我可以在这里拍照吗?

Mandarin pronunciation · Device-generated pronunciation (depends on browser and system voices)

Your current device will speak after you click; voices can differ by device.

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You may use this table.

English pronunciation · Device-generated pronunciation (depends on browser and system voices)

Your current device will speak after you click; voices can differ by device.

你可以用这张桌子。

Mandarin pronunciation · Device-generated pronunciation (depends on browser and system voices)

Your current device will speak after you click; voices can differ by device.

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Connect this word to your life

The citation tones are kěyǐ. In connected speech the first of these two third tones normally changes toward a second tone.

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